h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Historically, good and evil have been categorised standards of human behaviour, with the boundaries of both being defined by either church or state. As the human condition evolves, so do the acceptable standards of behaviour which bind it. Thus an act categorised as good in the middle ages, would be categorised as evil today. For example, the burning to death of elderly women as witches. Thus, good and evil have never been, nor can ever be more than merely points of view, currently acceptable to the masses.

Hello Mystic!

I agree with that, but my personal take is that it depends more on intention than point of view. I guess a good way to start would be to define 'good' and 'evil' but we're all going to have different definitions of that, so it's unlikely for there to be such a thing as a purely good or evil action.

Agreed. The problem is that TODAY our definitions depend largely on the needs, wants, drives and perceptions of society as a whole. If those factors change tomorrow, then so will what we define as good and evil. Moralistic absolutes can only work for the generation that defines and accepts them.

That's a good idea. Thanks for getting us back on topic!

(Me and Jonny made up yesterday)

With this in mind, would it be a good idea to completely change the legal system aver, say, 25 years<?>

(Yay!)

You've lost me.

(You're nickname's about me!)

"Moralistic absolutes can only work for the generation that defines and accepts them."
So should we be completely changing our legal system every 25 years<?>

(From Catatonia's "For Tinkerbell".... Very me, too )

I get it now. I can understand why this idea would work, but surely that loses old-fashioned morality?

Is old fashioned morality necissarily a good thing<?>

If we did things the old fashioned way, Pin honey, you and I would have been married off to some random 17-30 year olds by now!

Not true. In Victorian times, girls got married at around 21. Then the 60's Free Love came along, and the government lowered the age of consent to keep up with the trend. Apparently, sex at such a young age is dangerous.

Everything is dangerous.

carpe diem, that's what I say!

It depends on how far back you go.... and what society you look at. If I remember right, at one point, girls were married off at 14ish and boys at 18ish...

Or you could look at Muslim culture, girls at 9, boys at 15.

Doesn't bare thinking about...

That's what I thought.

Said a lot that the boys are so much older than the girls before they're considered mature enough...